This was the interview that got Crossfire cancelled.
But the damage was done. It's as if Rove and Ailes planned it.
Ever since January 20, 1993, political discourse has gone from adversarial but genteel to downright vile. Now, "political discourse" consists of who can out yell the other in a take no quarter-give no quarter display of male inadequacy.
It's seeming like the more outre your remarks, the more attention you receive.
We're becoming a nation of trolls.
Used to be, troll-spotting was easy. Now, not so much. For instance, how can we tell a person who is frustrated and has made the decision not to vote from the troll who tries to convince everyone not to vote? How can we tell a person who still genuinely believes in what the administration is doing from someone who wants to start arguments? How do we tell the genuinely venting person from the person who wants to cause entropy?
It seems we are turning into a giant pie fight between "bitter-enders" and "programmed cultists".
And how can we tell if someone is just writing stuff to get on the rec list?
The best comment threads are the ones that get all wonky. People talk about their perceptions of strategy, about making connections between this policy and that action, and all sides learn something.
Plus, it makes it easier to root out the trolls and send them to the oblivion they deserve.